Over the last week, OIG Chief Counsel Lewis Morris has testified before Congressional committees discussing the need to crack down on fraud, waste and abuse. More regulation and scrutiny from the OIG, such as probation periods for new providers financed by enrollment application fees, might look good to lawmakers as Morris says the government gets back $17 for every $1 spent on OIG oversight.

Congressional budget leaders scrapped a proposed, long-term Medicare payment fix from the federal budget plan (PBN 4/13/09), opting to freeze the physician pay rates at 2009 levels for 2010 and 2011. However, the budget agreed to on April 27 and approved by both houses April 29 does not necessarily reflect future policy, a House aide specializing in Medicare legislation tells Part B News. Congress will still need to pass a bill to avoid the devastating 21% cut set for Jan. 1, but money is set aside for a two-year fix.

Radical new bonus payment options are being considered as top lawmakers move closer to drafting the health reform bill, Part B News has learned. Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) held a lengthy closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill April 29 to discuss the options, which were previewed in a 52-page "policy options" document.

Physician practices are tightening up ship now more than ever. Many are struggling with layoffs and decreased revenue, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Why are certain staff members laid off while others are spared? What does this mean for those who are left? Are more layoffs around the corner? What does the future hold for the facility? These concerns and many others are now in the minds of employees, making it crucial to deal with the matter head-on.

As valuable as a certification can be, there is plenty of information to keep in mind before embarking on your certification journey. First and foremost, it?s important to evaluate where you are on your career path and which of your job responsibilities could be enhanced with a certification.

When physician practices look to hire new employees, trustworthiness is the No. 1 quality they seek in candidates. They ask themselves: ?Can we trust this person to treat our patients and colleagues with respect?? ?Will he or she keep financial, personal, and medical information confidential?? ?Can we trust this person around the drug cabinet or the petty cash??

Gone are the days when physicians would gather in the staff lounge and discuss various healthcare issues. Now, as the Internet has moved in, they don’t even have to be in the same room or building to converse.

It’s time to set down the stethoscope and put away the balance sheet. Pull on your marketing boots—we’re going branding. First, let’s start with some basic terminology.

Managed care contract negotiations tend to focus on financial and legal issues, but overlooking the effect of medical management on payer contracts could jeopardize your financial viability. To ensure that managed care contracts line up with your organization?s financial goals, give one of your physicians a seat on your contracting team.